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Azalea Festival stuff for the kids

Published: Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 2:48 p.m.

street fair

A really fun – and free – children's zone at a festival can be a lifesaver for parents taking little ones to any celebration.

In recent years, the N.C. Azalea Festival Street Fair children's area has served that purpose nicely. This year's is expected to be no exception, with inflatables for young festival-goers to bounce in, games to play and children's dance troupes and other performances for them to watch on a stage in the parking lot at the Cotton Exchange.

What you need to know

Star power: Peyton List, a young actress who plays Emma Ross on the Disney Channel comedy series “Jessie” will make an appearance from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Children and their parents can line up for autographs and photos with List, who co-starred as Holly Hills in “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series and played the younger version of Katherine Heigl's character in the movie “27 Dresses.”

Bring socks: Make sure the children wear or bring their socks for the area's new inflatables. They're “bigger, better, more fun and more exciting than ever,” advises Deb Hays, chair of the Street Fair.

Get dirty: Be prepared for the children to dig in a little dirt and take home their own plant, courtesy of Home Depot.

Free food: Chobani Greek Yogurt, this year's sponsors of the area, will also be providing free tubes of yogurt for the little ones. The Chobani Greek Yogurt Champion Tubes are a new Chobani product. “We're one of their first big marketing stops,” Hays said.

Science rocks: In addition to dance troupes and other performances on the stage in the children's area, The N.C. Science Fair out of UNC-Chapel Hill will conduct science demonstrations on the stage as well as at its booth. The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Wilmington Children's Museum will be present, too.

All aboard: Take a break from the inflatables to ride the trackless train making its way around the Cotton Exchange parking lot – parents can ride, too.

– Cece Nunn

GO

What: N.C. Azalea Festival Street Fair children's area

When: noon-6 p.m. April 13-14

Where: The parking lot at the Cotton Exchange, downtown Wilmington

Tickets: Free

Details: 794-4650, www.ncAzaleaFestival.org

circus

Billed as “the World's Largest Circus Under the Big Top,” Cole Bros. Circus is another long-running festival tradition.

Attractions this season include three acrobatic elephants, the ThunderDome Moto Chamber of Danger, the Aerial Ballet, Kellan Bermudez balancing in the “Wheel of Destiny” – and, of course, daredevil Jose Bermudez will be blown from “The World's Largest Cannon.”

New features this year, the website says, include a white tiger act, a “fast-paced” dog act and a high-wire troupe from Colombia, South America.

What you need to know

Reserved seats: Although general admission seats are $4 cheaper, it definitely makes the visit more enjoyable to buy reserved seats, especially if you have younger children.

Getting there: Allow yourself at least 15 minutes to park, which will give you time to soak in the pre-show color.

Show me the money: Bring extra cash for refreshments and the balloons and plastic toys your kids will have to have to make their lives complete.

Tickets: Some businesses around town are offering free general admission tickets for children while supplies last. VIP tickets are $28, reserved adult $25, reserved child/senior $20. Get tickets through the N.C. Azalea festival through Wednesday, April 10. No refunds.

Details: 794-4650 or www.ncAzaleaFestival.org

Other events children might enjoy:

THE GARDEN TOUR: Supervised little ones can go on the Cape Fear Garden Club's Azalea Garden Tour, as long as they don't trample or otherwise play with any parts of the beautiful gardens. In my experience as a mother of two, they're usually too much in awe of the flowers and plants, as well as the unique decor, to try to destroy anything. You can always hurry them along to the next place if it looks like they're getting too excited.

<p class="bold allcaps">street fair</p>
<p>A really fun – and free – children's zone at a festival can be a lifesaver for parents taking little ones to any celebration. </p><p>In recent years, the N.C. <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/entertainment10"><b>Azalea Festival</b></a> Street Fair children's area has served that purpose nicely. This year's is expected to be no exception, with inflatables for young festival-goers to bounce in, games to play and children's dance troupes and other performances for them to watch on a stage in the parking lot at the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9957"><b>Cotton Exchange</b></a>.</p><p>What you need to know</p><p>Star power: Peyton List, a young actress who plays Emma Ross on the Disney Channel comedy series “Jessie” will make an appearance from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Children and their parents can line up for autographs and photos with List, who co-starred as Holly Hills in “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series and played the younger version of Katherine Heigl's character in the movie “27 Dresses.”</p><p>Bring socks: Make sure the children wear or bring their socks for the area's new inflatables. They're “bigger, better, more fun and more exciting than ever,” advises Deb Hays, chair of the Street Fair. </p><p>Get dirty: Be prepared for the children to dig in a little dirt and take home their own plant, courtesy of Home Depot.</p><p>Money, honey: Bring cash for the food vendors outside the children's area. </p><p>Free food: Chobani Greek Yogurt, this year's sponsors of the area, will also be providing free tubes of yogurt for the little ones. The Chobani Greek Yogurt Champion Tubes are a new Chobani product. “We're one of their first big marketing stops,” Hays said.</p><p>Science rocks: In addition to dance troupes and other performances on the stage in the children's area, The N.C. Science Fair out of UNC-Chapel Hill will conduct science demonstrations on the stage as well as at its booth. The <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic13"><b>N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher</b></a> and the Wilmington Children's Museum will be present, too.</p><p>All aboard: Take a break from the inflatables to ride the trackless train making its way around the Cotton Exchange parking lot – parents can ride, too.</p><p>– Cece Nunn</p><p>GO</p><p>What: N.C. Azalea Festival Street Fair children's area</p><p>When: noon-6 p.m. April 13-14</p><p>Where: The parking lot at the Cotton Exchange, downtown Wilmington</p><p>Tickets: Free</p><p>Details: 794-4650, www.ncAzaleaFestival.org</p><h3>circus</h3>
<p>Billed as “the World's Largest Circus Under the Big Top,” Cole Bros. Circus is another long-running festival tradition. </p><p>Attractions this season include three acrobatic elephants, the ThunderDome Moto Chamber of Danger, the Aerial Ballet, Kellan Bermudez balancing in the “Wheel of Destiny” – and, of course, daredevil Jose Bermudez will be blown from “The World's Largest Cannon.”</p><p>New features this year, the website says, include a white tiger act, a “fast-paced” dog act and a high-wire troupe from Colombia, South America.</p><p>What you need to know</p><p>Reserved seats: Although general admission seats are $4 cheaper, it definitely makes the visit more enjoyable to buy reserved seats, especially if you have younger children.</p><p>Getting there: Allow yourself at least 15 minutes to park, which will give you time to soak in the pre-show color. </p><p>Show me the money: Bring extra cash for refreshments and the balloons and plastic toys your kids will have to have to make their lives complete.</p><p>GO</p><p>What: Cole Bros. Circus Big Top</p><p>When: 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 11-12; 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 13-14.</p><p>Where: <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/TOPIC9917"><b>Wilmington International Airport</b></a>, 1740 Airport Blvd., Wilmington</p><p>Tickets: Some businesses around town are offering free general admission tickets for children while supplies last. VIP tickets are $28, reserved adult $25, reserved child/senior $20. Get tickets through the N.C. Azalea festival through Wednesday, April 10. No refunds.</p><p>Details: 794-4650 or www.ncAzaleaFestival.org</p><h3>Other events children might enjoy:</h3>
<p>THE GARDEN TOUR: Supervised little ones can go on the Cape Fear Garden Club's Azalea Garden Tour, as long as they don't trample or otherwise play with any parts of the beautiful gardens. In my experience as a mother of two, they're usually too much in awe of the flowers and plants, as well as the unique decor, to try to destroy anything. You can always hurry them along to the next place if it looks like they're getting too excited.</p>